IMPD's Dirty Cops

The federal trial of two narcotics IMPD officers who were allegedly stealing money and drugs from area drug dealers is getting underway at the federal courthouse in Indianapolis. The Star's Jon Murray gives a preview of the case here. If you want all the nitty gritty details of the allegations of the government against Robert Long and Jason Edwards, check out the government's trial brief and proffer of evidence here. According to a government informant, an ex-police officer, Long's and Edward's alleged illegal activity dates back 7 or 8 years when they started stealing items recovered during the execution of search warrants, thefts referred to as "cuffing." They started out with small-time stuff like jewelry, guns and flat panel TVs. My favorite story from the government's brief is the $125,000 stolen from a Bentley automobile at Lion's Gate Apartment:

During June 2007, several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, and the IMPD executed arrest and search warrants in connection with the indictment in United States v. Shawn Young, et al., Cause No. 1:07-cr-068-SEB/KPF. Long participated in these raids.

There were rumors that the targets of the investigation had been tipped off before the raids.

There was also talk that the feds were looking for a Bentley automobile containing cash.

Long told Davis that his wife, Janice, had locked her keys in her car and needed to borrow Davis's slim jim. Long stopped by Davis's home to borrow the slim jim. Around this time, Edwards told Davis that they had something serious and proceeded to tell Davis about the Bentley. Edwards said they found the car at the Lion's Gate apartment complex and were trying to get inside the vehicle to take the $100,000 believed to be contained therein. Edwards also told Davis that the slim jim did not work on the Bentley.

Davis was outside Nashville, Tennessee on his way to Panama City, Florida, when he received a call from Edwards. During the call, Edwards said they got inside the car but were having difficulty gaining access to the trunk. Edwards said they needed a flat bed tow truck to remove the vehicle from the parking garage at Lion’s Gate.

One or two days later, Edwards called Davis and said that they got in the trunk of the Bentley and stole approximately $125,000. Edwards said they had recruited some young kids to assist and had paid them $5,000. The remaining money was split among Edwards, Long, Chavis Taylor, and another person.

Long used his share of the money to take his wife on a first class trip to Hawaii. Edwards used his share of the money by to travel, possibly to Mexico, and to purchase an interest in a boat with Jason Barber, a detective assigned to the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the IMPD.

Imagine, the corrupt police officers couldn't figure out how to open the trunk of a Bentley so they recruit some kids to do the job for them and paid them $5,000. A sidebar to Murray's story details a half of a dozen other police officers charged for corruption over the past year.